The economic impact of a changing urban mining region : the case of the West Rand district municipality in Gauteng province

[摘要] ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The economy is constantly changing and shifting and the impact of that is felt across countries, regions and cities. The changes contribute to increased entrepreneurship and often an increased rate in innovation and technological advances. Technological breakthroughs have resulted in the extension of gold mine production in South Africa throughout the history of the country. Despite this, gold production in South Africa has been declining since 1996 at a constant rate of around 60% over the period. The West Rand, located south west of Gauteng, is a region with its economic roots settled deep in the mining sector, specifically gold mining. The study will investigate economic trends in the West Rand and compare it within the context of the bigger Gauteng. The study investigated trends in the economy of the West Rand through the analysis of up-to-date time series business data. This could contribute to valuable resources assisting municipalities such as the West Rand District Municipality with the development of future Integrated Development Plans (IDPs). Business, turnover and employment data from the Business Register were analysed and through statistical calculations, the study found that there was a decline in the total number of business establishments in the West Rand during the study period. Despite this, the research seems to suggest that employment and turnover in the West Rand are showing a positive growth pattern. The implication that these findings have for the West Rand is that local authorities can have access to an up-to-date detailed business analysis that provides sector-specific results and trends. Having time series business data available can assist regions to detect and deal with possible changes in their economy.

[发布机构] Stellenbosch University